McKinney, softball earn preseason accolades

Brady Fitch photo

Taylor McKinney stands at third base during a 2024 game against Auburn.

With the 2025 season on the horizon, Troy softball earned multiple team and player accolades. The Trojans head into the season as a team to watch out for in the Sun Belt Conference.

As a team, Troy was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt by D1 Softball. The Trojans were also ranked No. 4 in the conference in the Sun Belt preseason poll.

“Regardless of where our team is ranked in the preseason, every team starts the year with an unblemished record with their eyes set on an automatic bid to the national tournament,” said head coach Eric Newell in an interview with Troy Athletics. “That said, our team is eager to battle this year, and we are looking forward to competing week in and week out in the Sun Belt.”

The Trojans ended last season with a 13-11 record in conference play – fifth in the conference. With a lot of roster turnover this season, there’s a new group of personalities on the field.

“I think our chemistry as a team is going to take us a long way,” said sophomore pitcher Savannah Money. “We have a lot of confident people on the team and a lot of strong personalities, and that’s really going to show on the field.”

Taylor McKinney, Troy’s star second baseman, also won her fair share of awards. D1 Softball named her the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, as well as the No. 10 second baseman in the nation.

She was also placed on the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team after being named to last year’s All-Sun Belt Second Team and the NFCA All-Region First Team. McKinney is entering her senior year at Troy and has been a fixture for the program.

“The cool thing about Taylor is she brings it every day in practice,” Newell said. “She’s the type of kid that maybe isn’t your outspoken leader, but she’s a lead by example leader.

“Having your best player be one of your best leaders is a good situation to be in.”

While the Trojans have high preseason expectations, senior Cassidy Boltz said the expectations are even higher.

“Our goal is to win the Sun Belt and be in Oklahoma City at the end of May,” Boltz said. “That’s our goal, and I think that’s the only goal we need to have.

“That explains all the other goals, whether it’s winning games, winning series or winning tournaments.”

Troy softball opens the season on Friday with games against Central Michigan and Tennessee State. First pitch at the Troy Softball Complex is set for 2:30 p.m.against Central Michigan.